Rotterdam Launches First Shore Power Facility for Cruise Ships – AIDA Cruises Leads the Way

Bild: AIDA Cruises
Rotterdam Embraces Green Energy: Shore Power for Cruise Ships Goes Live
On March 31, 2025, the first Dutch shore power facility for cruise ships officially commenced operations in the Port of Rotterdam. The AIDAnova will be the first vessel to use clean onshore electricity while docked, allowing AIDA Cruises to expand its network to 13 European ports across seven countries offering shore power. In Rotterdam alone, 31 additional AIDA ship calls are planned for this year, all of which will now be able to operate emission-free at berth.

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Sustainability as a Long-Term Strategy

"Rotterdam has developed into a year-round destination for our guests. The fact that we can now use shore power here is a crucial step in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Dirk Inger, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability at AIDA Cruises. "We began integrating shore power into our fleet planning two decades ago. In 2017, we became the first cruise line in Europe to adopt shore power as a standard practice. Today, we continue to support other ports in implementing their own facilities."

The numbers speak for themselves: In 2024, AIDA Cruises used shore power during 360 port calls—five times more than the previous year. For 2025, over 500 port calls with shore power connections are already scheduled. With the new facility in Rotterdam, coverage in Northern Europe increases significantly: Nearly half of AIDA’s port stops in the region can now operate with lower emissions.

Pioneering Work with Hands-On Expertise

Even before the official opening, AIDA Cruises played a key role as a pilot partner in the technical development of the facility. The company provided ships for testing and contributed expertise gained from ports such as Hamburg, Kiel, Bergen, and Stockholm. Since 2004, all newbuilds in the fleet have been designed for shore power compatibility. In 2017, the AIDAsol began regular operations at Europe’s first shore power facility in Hamburg. Following Rotterdam, additional locations like Copenhagen and Le Havre will soon come online, also benefiting from AIDA’s experience.

Multi-Faceted Approaches for a Carbon-Neutral Future

Beyond shore power, AIDA Cruises is investing in other sustainable technologies, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transitional fuel, biofuels, and the largest maritime battery storage system currently installed on a cruise ship. The goal is clear: By 2050, the entire fleet aims to achieve net-zero emissions in ship operations. The shore power facility in Rotterdam marks another milestone on this journey.